Note To Readers: Yeah, I struck through the word “high” in the lyrics. It is not so much of a moral statement as it is more of a way for me to note with seriouss and with great respect for anesthesia while appreciating the aspects of being given good drugs and have them monitored safely by a credible doctor or registered nurse when appropriate.

Yesterday while having the nerves in my neck, C3,4, C 4, 5, “Fried” I was never more grateful for the great gains in anesthesiology than I was during the RAFAblation I had done yesterday. Help for both: help with the light sedation that I found was necessary in more ways than I just assumed by what my own need would be necessary during the procedure, and help with pain reliever which had actually never occurred to me that would be needed dduring the process. But it was. The general local I was given was never going to be enough. Despite the fact that Dr Swift had never had the procedure done himself it became obvious in a number of ways that he was concerned with his patients comfort. This is unusual in my experience. Typically the surgeon has no clue, wants none beyond the logistics of his or her role on the procedure, which I can appreciate. I am grateful that for the assurance that the process no matter what it is they are able to compartmentalize what is happening in front of them. That being said though there is a big difference between the doctors who are also able to be compassionate. I consider it a blessing to have a doctor who can do both.

For the sedation they used Versaid. [sic] The usual medicine used for surgery. It helps us relax, even in terms of receiving a General Anesthesia where the patient is put completely asleep it’s used to help the not remember a thing should they become aware of anything that was going on. It is the medicine most adults over 50 are familiar with, is used for colonoscopy’s.

The registered Nurse who was administering the meds intravenous was extremely conscientious with every step of the way. She was the only one who had told me about the fact that being burned on the skin from the radio-frequency at the procedure sight was a possibility. And that I being fair-skinned especially had a good chance. Its like being sunburned, which I get easily. The trick was going to be to ice it, ice and more ice.

Another aspect of the nurse whose name is Rene is that she was really good about explaining the procedure. I was wondering at the start of her explaining why Dr Swift or someone had not explained before arriving for the procedure. There are some elements that may have freaked me out, I may have gave in knowning about this, and then talked myself out of doing it. Once there and in her hands I felt safe. She explained to me that once the actual burning started that Dr Swift is excellent about staying in touch with the patient and asking how she is feeling. Rene said at any time I needed more of anyof the medicines or the numbing agent to say something. DR Swift she said was really good about stopping, waiting for more meds to be administered. That I should not for any reasons hesitate. This information was platinum!

The pain medicine used, which I frankly had not though about needing except for post the procedure is another typical pain medicine used to keep a patient comfortable during a painful procedure if being conscious is the mandate. For an ablation it is necessary the patient be awake so that the doctor may talk with her during the process. I recognized that post the Ablation there may be points where stronger pain medicines might be valuable, the nerves are dying off after all and that cannot feel too good until they are in fact dead. And I have been warned that it can get worse before it does get better because of the nerves dying.

Without the help from these two medications I would never have been able to get through the procedure. Maybe not even the very first instruction given to me. Unlike the two test injections prior to this actual; Ablation they had me lie on my right side. The injections going in the left side of my neck as it is the left side that is being affected. The acual Ablation though required me to lie on my stomach, the actual Burning would need to go through the back of my neck. For anyone who has neck (cervical) issues, who has cervical surgery, and like me who also has had a cervical fusion where I have a Titanium Plate graphed to my spine lying on my stomach is almost impossible. The positioning of my spine now I suppose because of the plate makes it impossible to bend my neck the small fractions it takes to move it into some sense of comfort. It helped that there was a massage pillow on the gurney table where I was able to put my nose, mouth, and chin. I could not though have been able to hold that pose for no 30 minutes without the pain medications and the sedative which helped relax my muscles.

Speaking of friends and small towns (well somewhere we were) I have to share a sweet piece of private trivia. My nurse Rene was mentioning that she was keeping an eye on the 10 day local forecast. I wondered why and asked,. She said she was getting married in 10 days and it was an outside wedding. I was not surprised, June weddings and all. I had no real personal interest over her wedding but wished her well and promised to do the sunshine dance for nice weather. My husband had been sitting quietly beside us, I assumed pretty bored at three women (our daughter #2 was there as well) discussing wedding plans. Oh Ho Hum….But he perked up and asked her is she would not by any chance be marrying Dr S. My husband D sees Dr S at the same clinic that I see Dr Swift at, and the surgical center I was having the procedure at is connected to. Swift. So, Dr Swift, Dr S and the nurse that stayed with me the entire time all work for the same clinic. And the nurse Rene and Dr S are getting married. What a small world it is. As soon as she knew D is a patient of Dr S it was like we were family. In fact when Rene walked me out tp our car pin being released she hugged me! So cool that we live in such a small town, and sometimes I complain about being small and the medical community being so tied together. I am so happy tp see the good side of that. And I am seeing it more and more if I am jsut patient and wait.

The procedure went really well.We listened to Journey, Steve Perry doing the lead vocals. One of my absolute fave of a bands os all time. But it has to be Steve Perry doing the leads. I was kind of touched that someone in that OR room had remembered a conversation about music we had during one of my test injections. Small town, you gotta love it.I ended up having to have more of the sedation medicine and the numbing agent Lidocaine.administered fairly soon after the first catheter was put in place. I could feel it. True to the word the process stopped as soon as I said something. None of thise, “oh we’re almost there, if you vcan just hand on a lttle longer.” The meds received, the procedure went on. I was good again not neding more meds until the thrd burn. I could feel even the heat of the tip which I now cannot rmember how many degrees he told us. The things we block .The action once again stopped at my rewiest fpr what dd not know. I did know it hurt and I was not able to handle it. They answer of course was more pain medicine. I am so glad they have done a few times ir so.

I was doing so well after they let me leaving earlier than the norm. The particulars now that are important are taking it easy for a couple of days, icing the area for both interanl inflammation but also for a possible topicalburn from the radio-frequency.I am burned a bit not what I expected because I am fair and the site is on the back of my neck under my haor when the light rarely sees. This is something I would have not known about had my nurse (Rene who prepped me and stayed with me the entire procedure. All the way to the car as I expained.

I’ll see Dr Swift again in 6 weeks.

I’m feeling really sore, my neck is sensitve. But even though its a different kind f pain its doable with light pain meds. What is really interesting to me is that I feel sun stroked. Its the only thing I can relate it to. The surgical center as habit phones the patient the day after their procedure to check on them. When I was phoned I told her everything different I was feeling, I do have the all the typical reactions, nothing out of the norm although the feeling have of beng sunstroked. I am hot from the inside out. I know hot. I have an issue already with not being able to control my body temerature that is not hot flashes of typical hormone related. It has to do wuth the Hypo-Thymus. gland she had only heard of it in a patient who also has MS. I do have Fibromyalgia, Connective Tissue Disease, and Giant Cell Response, and wondered if either of those could makethe matter, Apparently the Fobro was the tcket. Because its thought (now) to be a central nervous system disorder they suspect that because I am hyper sensitive to such things. I am not surprised, I am hyper sensitive to a lot of things, things that Id never think of and then it pops up. For instance I cannot wear anything with nylon in it. And that tends to be a problem. 100% Cotton is the all over answer. This reaction then is not a surprise and not anything I need to be concerned with. Just hand out in all air condtined room.

I feel like I am doing really well. Sleeping alot which is really cool since I have svere insomnia. I am taking advantage of the sleep I seem to be craving, and listening to my body. It is nice that already I am feeling some improvement in my left shoulder and arm pain wise. And this is just the beginning. I have faith in this procedure for me, that it is going to be my ticket back to normalcy.

Is that not just so cool how small town we are? I always like to see those kinds of connections made. Seems to me they are the kinds of connections that create the web we call community. I happen to have a thing for community.

Thanks again for your cheering me on. I so wish I could conver to each of you how special you have let me feel because pf my connections with you. Much fondness creeps in for lovelies like you who are the best at showing people they care.

Such good advice I even like Jules. Thank you! I am sleeping so much I have my days and nights confused. Good thing we are retired and have no real concerns about it. D is keeping up with me, so that when I am up he is too. Is that love or what?

LOL… sorry about that Terri.. it was kind of real. Maybe a little rude.. You are such a peach of a friend, have neck issues of your own and I am certain you were feeling this to the bone. For that I am sorry.
You should not be so intuitve….: )
How do you get the smile icons here anyway?

Thanks so much in all sincereity for your virtual hugs and your real support. Means so much.

Well thanks for the reply! I am fortunate in that I can control mostly any pain by what I do. For instance I can’t sit for too long….hey that is a good thing…no sit on keister… I believe it is under the appearance tab…you can check for the colon and parenthesis to be converted into emotion or the smiley icon…Terri 🙂

This is a great catch-up post! I’m so glad you got a chance to write it. Also, I am thrilled that you got Versed — that’s what I’ve had for most day surgeries — apparently I am awake, but I don’t remember anything. Good for you, and yay for the magic of modern anaesthesia!

For it being a medical procedure I was impressed with the entire event. I am more and more impressed with how modern medicine is coming down to our level more and more.
I am delighted with every contact I had and I think this is a first.

I am grateful Judith for your thoughtful comment about my documenting this event in my life. To have my blogging family’s input too is incredible! I so love it!

Thanks again my friend for your devotion to hanging with me through this process. It was great the doctor and staff were so easy to be with while yet being in such an uncomprmising position. They were the ones who made it possible to comfortable in an uncompromising situation.

Thank you as well for your thoughtful comment about my documenting this procedure. If It’s informative for others thats my bonus;

Two Years? That’s from just the one ablation? That’s great benifit. Can you tell me if you recall your neck feeling a dull sense of numbness around the area where the work was done. Not really numb but more like dull. I am not sure if its a concern or not/ How awesome to have someone who knows what the whole thing is like living with.

I did have it in my low back as well, The pain is gone for about two years for me, slowly returned, but I had a pain pump installed because of my broken pubic bone. I use a cane all tricked with a charm bracelet with painting stuff on it to remind me who I was & how I will be

I so love the sound of your cane. Have you photographed it? That would be a great image and story to share. I like how you have almost prompted yourself for the the first paragragh or opening sequue
“I use a cane all tricked with a charm bracelet with painting stuff on it to remind me who I was & how I will be……”

now just go on with that sentance. Sorry. saw a story and ran with thinking out loud.

I keep telling myself to get on over to your blog and spend an afternoon getting to know you. Maybe now that I have some down time I will do just that. You obviously live witth far more pain than you talk about. Most women live who in chronic pain find it hard to talk about. With anyone who does not know this life its almost impossible. It’s a strange connection to have for sure, but it is what it and I am grateful for that. Then there is this passion for art. How cool.

I am praying for swift and sure restoration and recovery. thanks for sharing all the details. I am so grateful that your surgeon and nurse were so terrific and so respectful of you. that is so critically important, isn’t it? Oh I SO pray that this ablation will restore you to a better life very free of the pain and suffering you have been dealing with. prayers and lovely sunsets to you.

You have such a poetic grace to the words you write me kate. I am always touched by the way you are able to express your always loving and life affirming mssages. When I see I have an alert to something you wrote or a comment made I am most anxious to be lifted up by what you have shared.
God so loves You Girl, and do i.

Thanks Cee, you more than most know how true this is. Most of our healing happens while sleeping, building new cells structures.at work… I am doing as you suggest… listening to what my body is saying and needing. i am giving 200% OF MYSELF TO ALL THE GOOD ENERGY BEING SENT/ OPs caps on sorry.
Cool place I hit the cap key.
Inbetween sleeping I am eating well, craving fresh oranges like crazy, ate 5 in about 3 hours. LOL.. Listening as long as it seems healthy. Laying around, reading , writing, and drawing… Lind of feels good for a change.

You and others are so good to me. How can I stay away from this? I would miss you all greatly. I am blessed by your freindships. Its kind of nice to be and to fel needed. Thatnks for saying so I think people need to hear that more..